Kenneth Warren ‘Bud’ Erickson

Memorial services for longtime Cortez resident Kenneth Warren “Bud” Erickson will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 11 at the Cortez First United Methodist Church. Pastor Tom Towns will officiate.

Bud, as he was fondly known to friends and family, was born August 29, 1920 in Monte Vista, Colo. the son of Alexander Theodore and Pauline Clara (Kuhn) Erickson. He passed away at his Cortez home on Tuesday, June 3, 2014 at the age of 93.

On April 19, 1944 Bud married Anabel Lee Price in Delta, Colo. The couple recently celebrated 70 years of marriage. Bud’s career lead him to work in uranium milling where he held the position of maintenance supervisor for the now defunct company of VCA. Bud relocated his family to the Cortez area in 1970 when he purchased the Turquoise Motel and the Pony Express Restaurant. From that point on, Bud became an active member of his community and was proactive in helping the Cortez Chamber of Commerce to fund and erect the current visitors center in Cortez. He also saw the need for an updated and modern monument at the site of the Four Corners. Again, Bud was instrumental in seeing this dream to completion.

Bud’s hobbies included reading and hiking, especially liking time spent in the desert. He was quite fond of the 1946 Chevy pickup he obtained from his father-in-law and mother-in-law which he restored and called “Old Blue”.

Surviving Bud are his beloved wife, Ann Erickson of Cortez; son, Kenneth Randall Erickson and wife, Linda of Cortez; daughter, Linda Diane West and husband, P.G. of Cortez; daughter-in-law, Trudy Erickson of Cortez; five grandchildren, Jon Erickson, Devan Erickson, Kayla Reader, Jason Erickson and Gina West; five great grandchildren; and his sister, Eloise Olsen of Idaho. Bud was preceded in death by his parents, Alexander and Pauline Erickson; his son, Gary Warren Erickson; his grandchild, Leshon Erickson; and four brothers and two sisters. Bud had a long and good life; he will be greatly missed.

Memorial contributions can be made in memory of Kenneth W. “Bud” Erickson with Hospice of Montezuma, PO Box 740, Cortez. Arrangements are being made through Ertel Funeral Home. For further information or to send condolences, log on to www.ertelfuneralhome.com and click on the obituary section.